Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism

5 star:		(36)
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My husband is an American, not committed to Christianity, his religion by birth. I am a Hindu, born and brought up in India. Despite the gulf of difference in our understanding of Hinduism, we both have learned tremendously from this book. The appeal of this book lies in the in-depth knowledge of the authoress, plus the reverent, and yet humorous style, in which it is written.

It's a widely known fact that the oldest religion on this planet is as vast as the sky itself. It cannot be contained in one scripture/book nor mastered in one lifetime. This book is THE CLOSEST to being an "appetizer" for Hinduism: a MUST-READ for anyone who wants to graduate to more advanced levels.

I have been looking for Hinduism-related books for several years, especially one that my children could read and understand without constant goading. I am very happy that I have finally found one.

Laugh at me, the one who minored in religion at university, for getting an Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, but to be quite honest, this is a pretty darn good book for someone who wants a basic overview of this very complex, multifacited, ancient religion. I would have prefered having, say, pictures of the various gods so that I could easily identify them, or a short bibliography after each chapter so I could learn more about a concept or the subject(s) just covered. I would have also prefered more depth for religious practices and the like, however, this is just an IG book, not something you'd base a dissertation on.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism is a misnomer because there is so much to Hinduism that it couldn't possibly fit into one book, but Linda Johnsen does a masterful job of offering the most delicious slices of Hinduism that will leave you wanting to know more. This book was written with humor, with great love and with great wisdom. Her writing style is so delightful, you may wish the book never ends and for those who want to learn more, she has offered a resource list at the end of the book.

There is a real dearth of good books on hinduism. This is a reasonable introduction written by a committed and passionate american hindu. The entire hindu family of belief systems is described with helpful compact summaries.

As a hindu, my only quarrel with the book was its (1) references to stuff like Aryan Invasion theory and obscure historical controversies around it (2) its suggestion that Hindus generally accept magical events (the notorious Ganesh dripping milk episode) as part of their everyday religion. Neither are very relevant to day-to-day hinduism (most hindus do not belief that their god representations are magical!) and got in the way of the good stuff.

I like to think of this book in terms of what an educated person in India -- Hindu or non-Hindu, and not a scholar of religions -- would know about the Hindu religion from being immersed in Hindu culture, just as an American or European would understand Christianity; similarly for a person brought up in Muslim, Buddhist or other cultural surroundings.

This book succeeds, I think, in conveying a working knowledge of Hinduism to a person who was brought up in another culture; reading the book would enrich a visit to India or a relationship with a Hindu friend. The book also is entertaining and well-organized, as other reviewers have commented, making a topic that can be forbidding -- in its vastness, complexity and differing threads -- easy to digest.

However, the author has neither a historian's drive for perspective nor a journalist's detachment. She repeatedly co-opts the observations of modern science in support of Hindu beliefs. She frequently shifts in and out of character between believer and skeptic, sometimes on the same page. The book repeats many stories of dubious historical validity based only on anecdotal evidence. I wanted either to explore the background of the stories -- or else to lay aside the topic because I could spend the rest of my life in such research, and there are other ways I would rather spend my time.

This same conundrum would be found, of course, in encountering Hinduism out in the world rather than in a book, so maybe there's a lesson in the presentation! Certainly, read this book to understand the concepts, vocabulary and practices of Hinduism -- but you may save yourself a headache if you can avoid chasing after the loose ends.

Yes, this book is broad overview, but it really explains Hinduisms basic principles clearly and in an easy to understand way. If you're interested in Hinduism read THIS BOOK First before you pick up a book on the Vedas etc. Many Hindu concepts are hard for Westerners to grasp and this book helps you grasp many of the fundamentals of the religion. After you read this check out some other books that the author sites in her appendix.

Hinduism which is widely believed to be the mother of all religions, is not only the oldest but very vast and complex to understand with various myths, fables, hear-says that form the core of the religion along with the mammoth works of Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

This book is a very good starter for all those interested in learning about Hinduism. Amazing part of this book is the style of presentation - simple, factual, funny in places and with emphasis on the greatness of the religion in easy to understand words and format. Did i mean to mislead that it is only good for the starters? NO. it is not just for the starters - the references and explanations of various Hindu concepts of reincarnation (Poonar janmam), cosmic cycles (yugas), Atomic science (anu-paramanu vidya) and surprising facts like How caucasians still worship Hindu gods even today are appetizing even for a seasoned reader,

Have studied sanskrit for several years and have read the works of several authors but this book is refreshing and inspires to learn more about Hinduism.

Trust me this is the best book one can find to begin with on Hinduism. I was searching for a right book on Hinduism to answer questions of my American friends until I found Linda's book. When I received this book in mail, I was reading two other books on Hinduism, I opened Linda's book just to check the condition of the book and then I could not leave it until I was finished, I forgot other two books. I was surprised with her ease and passion for subject and with language. To understand Hindu wisdom of tens of thousands of years is Herculean task but Linda makes it fun. This book gives you insight in to Hindu theology, mythology, society and at the same time offers fiercely objective comments on history and psyche of White dogmas. This is book is MUST before you read any other on Hinduism.

This is not a puff piece on Hinduism, even though it is written by a sincere and passionate believer. The silly title may lead you to believe it is superficial treatment of the subject, it is not. This is a thoughtful, well written, clear, insightful and provocative look at an extremely complex subject. Linda Johnsen covers Hinduism's history, practices, and beliefs in depth, showing us where Hinduism shines and where it has warts. It's a wonderful book.

Honestly, this is the most accurate, complete, and informative introduction to Hinduism on the market today. Don't let the Idiot's Guide title fool you, this book is packed with accurate information, and is written by a practicing Hindu.